Prologue
Carpe diem.
If you plan to vote in 2020 and beyond, then you should read this book before you vote; if you do not intend to vote, then you should read this book to understand why you should vote.
Every government intervention creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government intervention.
Ludwig von Mises
Austrian American Economist
The road to hell is paved with good intentions is an English proverb with an unclear origin sharing a universal truth: Attempts to improve the well-being or ethical behavior of segments of our population are often counterproductive. Efforts that benefit our population in its entirety are generally more successful.
Almost every time that any social group has attempted to build a Utopia literally attempting to embody their good intentions in the creation of a perfect placeit has ended in tragedy, misery and the abandonment of their project.
Psychology Today
This book is not intended to tell you what to think ; instead, it is meant to encourage you to think , encourage you to question, challenge, validate, explore, and consider. It is intended to demonstrate how legislative policies have historically led to unintended consequences that then have required additional legislation to resolve the unforeseen outcome. Abraham Lincoln warned us almost two centuries ago, To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards of men.
I will attempt to speak out in hopes that the silent majority will understand, become vocal, and take a stand against the erosion of our democracy, economy, national security, and the basic moral fabric of our nation.
Let us look at America, let us listen to America to find the answer. As we look at America, we see cities enveloped in smoke and flame. We hear sirens in the night. We see Americans dying on distant battlefields abroad. We see Americans hating each other; fighting each other; killing each other at home. And as we see and hear these things, millions of Americans cry out in anguish. Few will recognize this quote, for though it might describe our country today, these words were said by presidential candidate Richard Nixon in his nomination acceptance speech in August 1968, fifty years ago.
How can it be that after a half-century, we are still mired in the same social quagmire? What degree of success can we attribute to our legislative process? Politics have become so bizarre and chaotic. We seem to have entered a period of political paranoia, a period of ignorance and arrogance. Many democrats seem to believe that President Trump is the Antichrist. Trump may be loved or hated, but he cannot be ignored.
For the record, I am less pro-Trump and more pro-reality. It is not my purpose to defend Donald Trumphe can be crass, crude, and narcissistic. Admittedly, there is a bit of a narcissist in each of us; however, he has also been that rare politician that is committed to delivering on his campaign promises. I believe that any president should be judged upon his performance, his policies and their impact on our country, economy, and society, rather than some visceral bias.
Our history is riddled with enacted legislation that have led to unintended consequences. Our politics have become so party-polarized that moderation and compromise seem impossible. The most extreme factions of all three major parties, Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian, are insistent upon stretching the envelope to unreasonable extremes in pursuit of their own agendas. The nonparty-affiliated independents might appear most moderate.
Moderation and compromise are the proper pathways to governing our great nation. We must all share the same fundamental priority: nation over party. Many Americans might agree that it could be time for a new centrist force, a third party that could be more effective in dealing with our nations problems. How far have we fallen?
In February 2019, the Senate failed to pass a bill that would prohibit aborting a child after its birth (infanticide). Forty-four Democrat senators voted against the bill. I find this to be profoundly disturbing.
While the progressive agenda did not begin with the Obama administration, it certainly was aggressively pursued by it. Candidate Barack Obama said, We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.
Surely, we might influence our future, but how can we reasonably expect to change our history? It is what it is.
Anti-Semitism is again becoming commonplace. In 2019, presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) declared Israel to be a racist government run by a right-wing racist. Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) have made controversial remarks viewed by most as anti-Semitic. The goal of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement is to delegitimize and destroy Israel.
Some members of Congress insist on inflaming tensions with the goal of isolating and tearing down anybody who supports freedom, human rights, and stability in the Middle East. Liberals always seem to want to engage in a national conversation as opposed to national action , comfortable with identity politics and poisonous rhetoric. They dont oppose hatred; they appear to encourage it.
The Freedom Caucus, the uberconservative wing of the Republican Party, successfully blocked bills it didnt like with just three dozen members. In 2018, the incoming House Democratic majority had an expanded liberal faction that is already causing disruption. The uberliberal Progressive Caucus has grown to nearly one hundred members, giving it tremendous potential influence. This new breed of liberal is suggesting more radical policies. If they cannot win by the rules, they propose to change them.
Restructure the Supreme Court. This is nothing less than a blatant attempt to dilute the power of the recently appointed conservative Supreme Court justices, with the possibility of liberal Justice Ginsburgs seat looming.
While the Constitution is silent regarding the number of judges to be on the highest court of the nation, we have presided with nine justices since 1869. President Roosevelt attempted to flood the court but was unsuccessful. I can see no judicial advantage to increasing the number of justices, only political .
Eliminate the Electoral College . Representative Cohen (D-TN) introduced a bill to eliminate the Electoral College on the first night of the 116 th Congress. Cohen is a vocal opponent of President Trump, and his action was purely political. Our founding fathers were prescient in the determination that the Electoral College system would provide the most unbiased method to elect a president, understanding that all states should participate in that process. In 2019, eight statesCalifornia, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgiaaccounted for 50 percent of the US population. If the Electoral College were eliminated, these eight states would determine the presidency of the United States, effectively disenfranchising the voters of the other forty-two states, or the remaining 50 percent of our population.
